Destroyer Carbine 9mm Largo

[Dimis]

does anyone know the value of one of these i recently got gifted one from my brother

also what ammo is safe to use as it will chamber various 9mm rounds im having trouble finding actual largo marked ammo (or begmann)
is 9x23Winchester safe to use in these?

i also have an unopened crate of ammo that i would like to know the value on as well its 1000 rounds military stamped and sealed never opened (to my knowledge)

 

[R.W.Dale]

Whatever you do never ever fire 9x23 in any largo firearm.

As to value it kinda depends on condition and the exact modle destroyer you have.

 

[Storm]

The new G&A Surplus Firearms has an article on the Destroyer.

 

[tju1973]

You can find them in pretty good condition for $450 ish---

DOn't shoot 9X23 Winchester or .38 Super in a Destroyer-- although they would fit and maybe not blow up on you, stick to the LArgo ammo-- you can find it all over the net-- SarcoInc has a big stock of corrosive and non corrosive...

They are handy little carbines and fun to shoot, just ammo is hard to get on the fly.

You can also handload cheaply Largo ammo--

 

[UniversalFrost]

give this article a read.

http://www.9mmlargo.com/destroy/index.htm

handy little guns.

 

[candr44]

I payed $250 for mine a couple years ago and it looked like it was rarely used. Ammo, right now, is easier to find than 9 parabellum and cheaper. You can find it at Sarco and they also have extra magazines under $10.

I like shooting mine very much. It is accurate and easy to shoot without much recoil.

 

[Dimis]

thanks for the info

isnt largo 9x23? i understand what your saying about winchester 9x23 being too much but arent the dimentions of largo still 9x23mm?

i know the rifle is in good shape its very clean with good wood i dont think its been shot much at all

how can i tell the different models of them because all that stamped on the gun is Destroyer Firearms and proof marks on the barrel

 

[Dimis]

ok i found more info thanks to the link above its manufacture date is 1965 with the two screw trigger gaurd

i also followed a link that shows how to modify colt .38 super magazines to fit so you can have a 9 round capacity (yes still useing 9mm largo)
but they failed to mention what colt .38 model magazines they used
does anyone know if they were 1911 magazines? or another firearm from colt

and as far as side arms go what sidearm was issued with the destroyer? i know they were made as compatable pieces using the same magazine etc.. but havent found the model handgun that was the companion piece

i know alot of questions but thanks in advance guys

 

[SaxonPig]

Bought one about 25 years ago for $69. Been shooting 38 Supers in it ever since. Current factory Super ammo is downloaded so far that's not really "super" any more. Ammo makers are afraid of lawsuits after some idiot blows up his old 38 ACP Colt with them. The last batch of Winchester Super ammo I bought clocked a pathetic 1080 FPS, same as the old 38 ACP. I doubt factory Super ammo exceeds the capabilities of the Destroyer.

Dimis- All the questions about value makes it sound like you are anxious to sell the items your brother gave you. You remind me of my own brother. We didn't speak the last 10 years of his life.

 

[R.W.Dale]

Bought one about 25 years ago for $69. Been shooting 38 Supers in it ever since. Current factory Super ammo is downloaded so far that's not really "super" any more. Ammo makers are afraid of lawsuits after some idiot blows up his old 38 ACP Colt with them. The last batch of Winchester Super ammo I bought clocked a pathetic 1080 FPS, same as the old 38 ACP. I doubt factory Super ammo exceeds the capabilities of the Destroyer.

Dimis- All the questions about value makes it sound like you are anxious to sell the items your brother gave you. You remind me of my own brother. We didn't speak the last 10 years of his life.

When you break your extractor Firing 38 super because it's all that maintains headspace during firing incorrect ammo where are you gonna get another? Thes rifles pretty much being hand made and fitted and all. You can shoot 380 in a 9 mm but that doesn't make it right

 

[candr44]

i also followed a link that shows how to modify colt .38 super magazines to fit so you can have a 9 round capacity (yes still useing 9mm largo) but they failed to mention what colt .38 model magazines they used
does anyone know if they were 1911 magazines? or another firearm from colt

They are 1911 magazines but you need to cut the square hole in the back. I tried this with 20 round magazines and it didn't work very well. The Largo round has a slightly longer bullet than the 38 super and the magazine won't feed 20 rounds reliably. Although, I haven't tried it with standard magazines. If you reload they might work well.

If you can get a 15 or 20 round magazine to work you will find this rifle a lot more fun to shoot. The short bolt action and low recoil make this rifle almost as fast as a semi auto. 6 rounds goes very quickly.

As far as the sidearm used with the rifle, I believe it was the Star model A and B in 9 Largo. The Star model B can easily be found for sale today and often costs under $300. They used the same ammo but not the same magazines.

Don't let anyone convince you that you can use anything but 9 Largo in this rifle. If you do, you might have some success for a while but you are risking breaking extractors that aren't easy to find and wearing out the throat of your barrel. I got rid of a Star model A in 9 Largo because someone used the wrong ammo in it and ruined the throat of the barrel. I couldn't find another barrel either. 9 Largo is easy enough to come by and you can buy new Starline 9 Largo brass so there is no reason to use the wrong ammo and yes 9 Largo is 9x23 but the load is different from 9x23 Winchester.

 

[Dimis]

thanks for all the info guys

no im not looking to sell it just want to know its value


im ordering some largo ammo as soon as i get the chance and see what this thing can do

 

[SaxonPig]

krochus- Can't address what might happen, can only discuss what HAS happened, which in this case is... nothing.

Took up this matter with two gunsmiths before trying it and both felt that the Destroyer could handle factory 38 Super pressure. Both had seen these guns shooting this ammo without harm. The bolt face for the Largo is smaller than the Super on paper, but in the world of manufacturing tolerances in many cases the Super ammo chambers just fine while in others the face has to be opened a bit.

Like I said, been shooting it for 25 years. Will let you know if anything breaks.

 

[LC '92]

Greasystool, those stocks on your Destroyers look great. I'm betting they have been refinished and someone did a very good job on them. Did you do them?

 

[Kernel]

Saxsonpig, do you reload any of your .38 Super cases using 9 mm Largo dies? I'm also wondering if the .38 Super cases are fire forming to your chamber. In effect, becoming 9 mm Largo after the first firing.

What's the providence of these rifles? Is it true that were used by the Spanish police? If so, are they marked as such?

In a way, this reminds me of the British "Cadet" rifle concept. Big bullet, little case, fun to shoot.

Last question. Anyone know if these rifles are C&R eligible?

 

[UniversalFrost]

yes, C&R eligible.

BATF website is your friend. Also these are over the age requirements for a C&R gun. Basicly anything from 59 and back is eligible and SKS's since their original design was right after wwII.

heck they even have an R&D model of what would turn into the M-60 as a C&R gun (see gunbroker, a guy is actually selling one and has been for quite some time , but who has a spare 45k to toss around?

joe

 

[ssgrock3]

I know this is an old thread but wanted the op to know that sillc.com has ammo cheap and tons of it.